To many, the end of the 2016 presidential election season was as much a relief as it was a shock. However, residents of the second largest city in Illinois have no time to take a breath. They will be back at the polls again Feb. 28 for a primary that will halve a field of four competitive candidates each vying to take the role of mayor of Aurora following the October 2016 resignation of Democrat Tom Weisner. ( The top two vote-getters in the primary will face each other April 4. )
Among those candidates is Democratic state Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia. In 2013, marriage-equality activists pressured Chapa LaVia through calls, letters and protests to come out on the side of the legislation in Springfield that year. Ultimately, Chapa LaVia, representing the 83rd District, voted in favor of marriage equality.
The U.S. Army veteran entrepreneur, working mom and legislator spoke with Windy City Times about her candidacy and why she believes she is a vital next step for Aurora, a suburban city of more than 200,000 that is about 40 miles west of Chicago and extends into four counties: DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will.
Answers have been edited for length.
Windy City Times: What spurred the run for mayor?
Linda Chapa LaVia: I've been in the legislature since 2002 and I've always been very proud of everything I've been able to accomplish here in Aurora. I wanted to take it to the next level. It's important that we have a mayor who's going to take care of everybody's needs and I don't see that happening right now. I want to be make sure that everybody is at the table. I was born and raised in Aurora and it's important to me that people from Aurora can stand on my shoulders and reach their stars. I want to make Aurora the best city we can have in this state. Right now, we're a little stifled. We need a transparent, accountable and ethical government that supports the whole city, not just downtown.
WCT: The state budget crisis has affected advocacy organizations across Illinois. As mayor, what would you do to help those in your city who are suffering because of Springfield's inaction?
LCL: I have the capabilities and I'm the only candidate with the resources, so that we can help in every community, especially the [LGBT] community in Aurora. We don't have an open organization here that supports all of our young, middle-aged and old people in showing them how to be successful in business or making sure their human rights are not being trampled on. Out of all these candidates, I'm the only one who's opened a business, that goes out of my way to find resources whether fixing a senior's roof or doing a turkey dinner for people who are less fortunate. I've still been able to bring back over $40 million back to our area even in the face of the adversity we've been dealing with for a while now.
WCT: Chicago has remained a sanctuary city despite threats from the Trump administration. What are your thoughts on making Aurora a sanctuary city as well?
LCL: I'm going to protect our citizens. I've been in classrooms with fifth graders who start breaking out in tears because they're afraid that their mom and dad are not going to be home when they get there. Being a Latina and a mother myself, that's just not acceptable. We need diverse people in every community. I will stand up for the citizens of the city of Aurora and they will feel protected because they are my family. People can't just come and take them away.
WCT: In terms of LGBT-inclusive education or transgender use of restrooms in Aurora's public schools, how would you handle the kind of federal push back one might expect from someone like Education Secretary Betsy DeVos?
LCL: LGBT rights are human rights, and I think a lot of people understand that. As mayor, I will ensure that the community has a voice in City Hall, that we form a human-rights commission that is worthy of being called that and that the community is afforded all the protections they need to live and thrive in Aurora. I will stand for that even if I get hauled away to jail for not enforcing something.
WCT: Why do you believe you are a better choice to lead the Aurora City Council rather than your opponents who have long been a part of it?
LCL: Collectively, all three of them [have] close to half a century of working in city government. My question for them is, 'Now they want to come up with all these ideas? Where have they been for 50 years?' They're running on the status quo. Every success they've had in the last 15 years is because I've brought back statutes, money or both. I want to take us into the future. I am the only candidate who has been endorsed on a bipartisan and federal level. It's because of the connectivity I've had over the years doing more than just my job as state representative. If you look at our surrounding cities, they're all thriving. Aurora is not. So why haven't these three individuals done what they needed to do before they wanted to run for mayor? I get things done and I have the relationships and support at every level to build Aurora.
For more information about the Linda Chapa LaVia campaign, visit ChapaLaVia.com .
Read an interview with one of Chapa LaVia's opponents, Rick Guzman, online at www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Aurora-candidate-Guzman-talks-staff-experience/58226.html .
